Mangione pleads guilty to killing UnitedHealthcare CEO

Luigi Mangione, a 28-year-old man, appeared in a Manhattan federal court on Friday to enter a guilty plea regarding the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The high-profile incident occurred on December 4, 2024, when the 50-year-old father of two was shot from behind while entering a midtown Manhattan hotel.

During Friday's hearing, Mangione, wearing a beige prison uniform and appearing solemn, read a statement admitting that he planned the attack in advance, crossed state lines with lethal intent, and used a 3D-printed firearm equipped with a silencer and a magazine.

He informed the court that his actions were driven by frustrations with the healthcare system after enduring severe back pain for years. Having learned that UnitedHealthcare would host an annual investor conference in Manhattan in December 2024, he traveled to New York and previously emailed the company posing as an investor to gather information about the event.

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

"I shot Mr Thompson in Manhattan and he died"

Luigi Mangione

Thompson's family released a statement calling the plea an important step toward justice, noting that while nothing can ease their pain, they are grateful the federal system held the perpetrator accountable. Prosecutors have recommended a prison sentence of 24 to 30 years, though Judge Margaret Garnett emphasized that she makes the final decision. The maximum possible sentence is life in prison without parole, alongside financial penalties, with sentencing scheduled for December 18.